Pantanal: Tropical Wetland

The Pantanal is a natural region encompassing the world's largest tropical wetland. This gigantic seasonal floodplain lies mainly within Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul in the Center-West Region of Brazil. However, small portions extend into northeastern Paraguay and southeastern Bolivia.

The Chiquitano dry forests ecoregion bounds the region to the west and northwest, the Arid Chaco dry forests to the southwest, and the Humid Chaco to the south. The Cerrado savannas lie to the north, east, and southeast.

Various subregional ecosystems exist, each with distinct hydrological, geological, and ecological characteristics; up to 12 have been defined.

Sprawling over 140,000 - 195,000 sq km (54,000 - 75,000 sq mi), the Pantanal is a vast, gently-sloped basin that receives runoff from the upland areas (the Brazilian Highlands) and slowly releases the water through the Paraguay River and its tributaries.

Torrential rains fill the Pantanal's giant basin each year, creating a vast flooded landscape. When the downpour subsides, water slowly drains into the Paraguay River, leaving behind fish- and snail-filled pools that attract large flocks of egrets, storks, and spoonbills.

Roughly 80% of the Pantanal floodplains are submerged during the rainy seasons, nurturing a biologically diverse collection of aquatic plants and helping to support a dense array of animal species. As a result, this pristine landscape is brimming with South America's greatest concentration of wildlife.

Biodiversity

The Pantanal natural region includes essential sanctuaries for migratory birds, critical nursery grounds for aquatic life, and refuges for such creatures as the yacare caiman, deer, and Pantanal jaguar.

The Pantanal ecosystem is believed to be home to 1,000 bird species, 400 fish species, 300 mammalian species, 480 reptile species, and over 9,000 subspecies of invertebrates.

Among the rarest animals to inhabit these wetlands are the marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) and the giant river otter (Pteroneura brasiliensis).

Parts of the region are also home to the following endangered or threatened species: the hyacinth macaw (Anodorhyncus hyacinthinus) (a bird endangered due to smuggling), the crowned solitary eagle, the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), the bush dog (Speothos venaticus), the South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris) and the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla).

Common species include the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), and yacare caiman (Caiman yacare). According to 1996 data, there were 10 million caimans in the Pantanal, making it the highest concentration of crocodilians on Earth.

The Pantanal is also home to one of Earth's most prominent and healthiest jaguar (Panthera onca) populations.

In addition to the caiman, some of the reptiles that inhabit this region are the yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus), the gold tegu (Tupinambis teguixin), the red-footed tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria), and the green iguana (Iguana iguana).

Protection Status

Most habitats of the Pantanal are in close to pristine condition. The principle threats currently affecting the Pantanal are pesticide runoff from agricultural lands and gold mining.

UNESCO recognizes the Pantanal Conservation Area as a World Heritage site comprising four contiguous protected areas: the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park and the Special Reserves of Acurizal, Penha, and Dorochê.

In addition, the Pantanal Biosphere Reserve comprises the Brazilian States of Mato Grosso, Matto Grosso do Sul and a small portion of Goiás State.

_{Map depicting the location of the Pantanal region}